Reinecke, Carl

Carl Heinrich Carsten Reinecke – Zur Jubelfeier für großes Orchester, op. 166 (Jubilee overture for large orchestra)

(b. Altona, 23. June 1824 — d. Leipzig, 10. March 1910)

Preface
Carl Heinrich Carsten Reinecke (Altona 18241 – Leipzig 1910) fortunately came from a musical family as his fragile constitution forced him to be home-tutored2 by his father “one of the most sought-after piano and theory teachers in Altona”.3 He gave his first public piano performance aged eleven. He also studied violin and was considered “a first-rate orchestral violin player”4 deputising at the local theatre.5 During a concert tour in 1842, his outstanding ability won him the favour of Christian VIII of Denmark (Reinecke later became court pianist in 1846) who financed his studies enabling him to study with Mendelssohn in Leipzig (1843) where he also met Schumann. Dr. Franz Gehring of Vienna6 wrote of Reinecke’s studies with Mendelssohn and Schumann: “he studied diligently […] with a success which amply shows itself in his music.”7 Schumann encouraged his compositions: “I have read your composition with much interest and delighted in many aspects – in their considerable skill for one thing and in their lofty aim that is generally apparent”.8 He concertised with Liszt, taught his daughters Blandine and Cosima at his request and was introduced to Berlioz.9 In 1851 he was appointed professor of piano and counterpoint at the newly established Cologne Conservatory by its founder, Ferdinand Hiller. Following appointments as conductor of the Concertgesellschaft at Bremen (1854); Musikdirektor in Barmen (1854-9) and conductor of the Singakademie in Breslau, in 1860 he succeeded Julius Rietz as the tenth Kapellmeister of the Gewandhaus concerts, a post he held until his resignation in 189510 – the longest tenure of any of the incumbents – as well as becoming Professor of composition at the Conservatorium, rising to Director in 1897, a post held until his retirement in 1902.11 In 1884 the Berlin Academy bestowed on him an honorary Doctorate and Professorship in 1885. …

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